From All Over The Web 20 Amazing Infographics About Anxiety Disorder Separation Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents who suffer from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They might also be concerned that separation could result in negative consequences, like being lost or hurt.

Children suffering from separation anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. The child is taught to tackle feared situations slowly, with confidence.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in relation to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People with this condition are afraid that something bad will occur to their family member if they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They may also fear other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones such as being abducted or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's unclear what causes separation anxiety in adults, but it can be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health issues, like depression or PTSD. People with this condition may be overly dependent on their children or romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may perceive them as too demanding or clingy.

This condition is characterized by excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or working, and recurring thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that require physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children who suffer from this condition might suffer physical issues like stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.

To diagnose this disorder, a healthcare provider will ask about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you have faced separation anxiety in the past.


Treatment for this disorder consists of talking therapy and, in certain cases medications. Your therapist can teach you and your child how to deal with their fears. They can assist you and your child understand how to handle separations in a step-by- procedure. The medications can calm the mind and relax the body to reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety is likely to experience extreme anxiety when they are away from their home or close attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety are more persistent than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last up to six months in adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions in daily life, school, and work. The condition can also cause problems with a person's ability create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose this disorder. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms began and what triggers the symptoms to become worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and the history of trauma dependent on the age of the person.

The doctor will also decide whether there is a medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. This could be due to an illness like cancer, or a neurological disorder like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes are family-related adversities that affect children such as mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, as well as experiences with trauma like natural disasters, sexual assault, war or the loss of loved ones.

It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there are no lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to the symptoms of other anxiety disorders. Someone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically experiences it after an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Certain studies suggest that those diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later on in their lives.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants, can help people overcome their fear. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess continues throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most prevalent anxiety disorder seen in children that affects up to 4% of them, with a onset age of about 7 years.

Your child's healthcare professional will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are identified, your child's healthcare provider will refer them to a mental health professional who has experience in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is typically the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will help your child discover healthy ways to manage their feelings and increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how they can assist their child and assist them cope with their anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically used in conjunction with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

Based on the specific needs of your child's requirements, their counselor will determine what treatment options are best for the child. For instance, children who suffer from severe anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually expose your child to situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they become comfortable.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals like returning to school or moving to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that affects their lives and prevents participation in activities they enjoy. If your child's worries are disrupting their daily routine discuss it with an expert in mental health.

Children with separation anxiety disorder experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other major relationships. They are always worried about being kidnapped or lost, or that an accident will cause them to lose those closest to them. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refusing to go to school, play dates or camp without parents.

The signs of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a doctor can determine the cause. The healthcare provider may interview both the child and the parents separately to obtain the complete picture. They might ask questions about other anxiety disorders or changes in the life such as family history and life events that could have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures for example, the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by an intruder. Separation anxiety in older children is often denied by them.

Children with separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them understand and manage their anxiety. In some instances, a combination of treatments is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children need to be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave aren't valid, and they'll only get better if they're given clear, firm boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.